Praveen D Rao - Composer

Karnataka Kalashree awardee

A versatile classical musician with an international reputation, working extensively as a Music composer, performer, stage director, and arranger for over 30 years.

He trained under renowned Guru Pt. R. V. Seshadri Gavai and Tabla Maestro Guru Pt. Ravindra Yavagal.

Praveen, a versatile multi-instrumentalist, proficient in a range of percussion instruments, keyboards and electronic media, has composed music for physical theatre, dance, soaps and movies apart from albums and advertisements.

He has composed original scores for over 200 title songs for television and over 400 full length production for various Dance and theatre companies around the world including Abhinava Dance Company, Natya Stem, Nritarutya, Chitraleka (UK), Sampradaya (Canada), Three Aksha (USA) etc.

Praveen has also been composing music for the Karnataka Tableaux for the national Republic Day parade for the past 10 years.

He has performed extensively across the globe representing Indian culture, conducting workshops and collaborations.

A PRS awardee for New Creations from the British Arts Council in 2006, Praveen was commissioned by Sampad, UK to compose music for Moving earth – a choreography involving 240 dancers to perform at the London cultural Olympiad alongside the 2012 London Olympics which was also presented in front of the Queen.

A few among the innumerable awards that he has received are

‘Kalāvatamsa’, ‘Sangeetha Ratnakara’, ‘Natya Sangeetha Saraswathi’, ‘Shree Kalā Jyothi’, ‘Kalā Chakravathi’.

He is presently serving as the Director, Param Culture and Vice president of the Karnataka Artistes’ Association.